ELTBBB What is a day
What is a Day?
Words often carry multiple meanings, and that versatility is what makes language playful and expressive. For example, jokes rely on words having more than one meaning:
“What did the mayonnaise say to the refrigerator?” "Close the door, I’m dressing."
Here, "dressing" can mean either “salad dressing” or “changing clothes.”
Similarly, the word "day" has several meanings:
- A 24-hour period.
- The part of a 24-hour period when it is light.
- A specific occasion, like a wedding day.
- A period defined by law or custom, such as a workday or a busy day.
The Hebrew people measured their days from evening to evening, inspired by the account of creation (▸ ± Genesis 1:5). This cycle carries symbolic meaning:
- **Evening**: Represents the transition from judgment to grace, as seen in the cross.
- **Night**: Symbolizes grace.
- **Daybreak**: Reflects the resurrection of Jesus, transitioning from grace to holiness.
- **Daylight**: Illustrates walking in holiness and light.
God’s Unique Use of the Word "Day"
God uses "day" Yom in a special way that invites us into a deeper mystery. In the Hebrew word for day, yom (יום), we find a riddle that reveals the story of creation and Christ:
- **God or his creation** (**י**)
- **Word and Workings of God**: The actions He performs by His Word (**ו**).
- **The Finished Work**: The completed work of the Son (**ם**).
Each day in the creation account tells a story about Jesus. Together, the seven days form a unified narrative—a "week" that reveals seven facets of Christ in one overarching story.
God likely created everything in the universe in an instant. Within that instant, He conveyed seven stories about His Son, woven into the seven days of creation.
Every aspect of creation—from evening to morning, from judgment to grace—reflects His glory and points us to Jesus. By meditating on the creation week, we uncover a multi-dimensional story of Christ, where time and eternity converge.
